Projectile



5 sheetsl KAISER cTI Filed Feb. 5, 1922 ATTORNEY Feb. 27, 1923f C.KAISER PROJECTILE Filed Feb. 5, 1922 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR a:

- ATTORNEY.

Per

5 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR W ATTORNEY C. KAISER PROJECTILE Filed Feb. 5,1922 X 1 I h I I .I y) m'llllllll A Feb. 27, 1923.

Patented Feb. 27, 1,923. i

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN KAISER, or eit er FALLS, Momma, assrenon 'ro cnm'r rALLsnoromra'rrc SHELL comrm, or GREAT reLLs, mon'rma.

PROJECTILE.

Application filed February 8, 1922. I Serial No. 533,759.

projectile of such class, with means in a manner as hereinafter setforth, and capable after the projectile is fired to cause it to travelto an extremelj great distance, by way of example, a range of from 100to 150 miles. I

The invention has for its further object,

to .provide the projectile with means, after.

it is fired, to automatically apply thereto successive accelerating orboosting impulses, during the flight of the projectile, under suchconditions causing the projectilefto travel an extremely long distance.

v The invention has for its further object, to provide the projectilewith a plurality of inherent impulseelements, one operating in advanceof the other and successively exploding during the flight of theprojectile to impart a successive series of accelerations or boostingimpulses thereby causing the projectile to travel an exceedingly longdistance.

The invention has for its further. object, to provide the projectilewith a plurality of inherent impulse elements, one independent of theother, operating one in advance of the other and successively explodingand separating from the projectile, under such conditions decreasing theweight of the pro-. jectlle and impartmg a successive series ofaccelerations or impulses during the flight of the projectile wherebythere is obtained for the latter an extremely long range. I

Further objects of the invention are to provide a projectile for thepurposev set forth which is comparatively simple in its arrangement andconstruction, eflicient in its use, having means to automaticallyprovide for a successive series of impulses during the flight thereof toobtain an extremely long range therefor, and comparatively inexpensiveto manufacture.

- With the foregoing and other objects in viewftheinventlon consists ofa novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, ashereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein is shown the embodiment of the invention,but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modificationscan, be resorted to which. come withinthe scope of the'claims hereuntoappended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding-parts throughout the several vie'ws:

Figure 1, is a sectional elevation illustrating the projectile containedwithin a shell and the whole arranged within a cannon;

Figure 2, is a longitudinal section through the improved projectile;Figure 3, is a transverse section on line 33 of Figure 2 taken throughone of the propelling chambers or section;

Flgure 4, 1s a similar view on line 44 of Figure 2 through thedetonating explosion chamber;

Figure 5, is a central, longitudinally sectional view showing one of theimpulse elements or propelllng explosion chambers showing the automaticfiring mechanism and time fuse arrangement.

Figure 6, is an end view of one of the impulse elements or propellingexplosion chambers with the cover plate 41 and covering fabric 43omitted in order to show the interior thereof;

Figure 7, is a detail lon itudinal section on line 7-7 of Figure 5 sowing the stay plate which holds the firing mechanism in place;

Figure 8, is a detailed'transverse'section through the fuse ignitionchamber on the rear end of the firing pin on line 8-8 of F igure 5;

Figure 9, 1s a longitudinal detailed section on line 99 of Figure 8;

Figure 10, is a detailed transverse section through a firing pin bodyand detonati'ng:

- which constitutes an is designed to contain will crush over the noseand through a slightly modified form of projectile.

Referring fmore in detail to the accompanying drawing the numeral 1designates the bullet, which may be solid or ofthe shrapnel orgas-filled type, and 2, 3, 4, 5, and 8 a are theindependent impulseelements propelling explosion chambers which form, with the bullet 1,the complete projectile, the same being mounted'within the shell 6 whichis to contain the charge for the initial discharge of the projectilefrom the cannon 7. The shell 6 is here shown as being disposed within acannon 7 ready for being fired. .That portionof the wall of theshell 6surrounding thecharge,v for initial dis-' charge of the projectile,being thicker than that portion of the wall of the shell 6, whichsurrounds the impulse elements or propelling explosion chamber, and bythis arrangement an annular shoulder is provided annular seat for thebaseofthe projectile when ,mounted in the shell 6.

Each of the propelling explosion chambers 2, 3, 4-and- 5 comprises acylindrical body end counter-bored to pro-' having its forward vide aninternal shoulder or seat for the next a forward chamber, the chambers4, 3, 2, and

8 having their rear portions reduced in di--, ameter so as to telescopeor nest within the next succeeding chamber'andengage on the internalshoulder thereof. Each chamber an-explosive which when fired, willimpart an added impetus or acceleration to the preceding projectilesection. Throughout its flight the projectile will be intermittentlyboosted through the successive explosions of the chamber, the finalcharge in chamber 8 serving to explode the main charge in the bullet 1unless the latter shall strikeits object previously thereto in:whichlatter instance a pointed cap 9 on the forward end or nose of the bulletdrive the firing pin 10, carried by the cap 9, rearwardly to explode aprimer 11, the pin 10 extends into the bullet 1 to within a shortdistance of the primer 11,-the latter is fitted into a recess formed inthe inner end of a hollow plug 12", which is filled with an explosivecharge and connects the primer 11 with a more powerful primer 13,mounted 'in a'flanged perforated thimble 14 which is secured in a,threaded collar formed on the plug 12." The purpose of this arrangementis to cause the exploding of the main charge in the explosive bullet, incase the bullet strikes a target before the explosion ofa charge in adetonating chamber, which is connected 'with and communicates with thebullet at the rear end of the latter. This detonating chamber will bepresently referred to. When the charge in the plug 12, is ignited by theprimer 11, the primer '13 is operated, to

charge 29 in the holder 28.

mamas ignite a detonating charge 53 contained within a cylinder 15 andfinally exploding the main charge 54: of the bullet. Obviously thebullet will explode whether it hits prematurely or not, and by theproper timing of the several explosions the bullet will explode duringits flight even if it has not hit its I object. The main charge isconfined within the bullet 1 by a perforated plate 16 closing its rearend.-

The impulse or '75 I propelling chamber 8, is also what may be termed adetonating chamber, is constructed similar to theother impulse elements,except that the sleeve'wh-ich projects forwardly and which is indicatedat 8, is threaded for the purpose of attaching it to the rear end of thebullet 1, and further that its cover plate 58 is perforated. The

purpose of the impulse element 8, is to detonate or explode, through theperforated '85 :plates 16 and 58,the main charge 54 in the 'bullet 1,just before the latter reaches its target, in case an explosive bullet,as illustrated, is used. 1

Within each'i-mpulse elementor propelling explosion chamber, is fixed afiring pin body or guide 18, in the form ofatube having a flared innerend seated in a recess in the rear wall of the body of the element. 'Thefiring pin body or guide 18 has its outer end i also flared, and thesaid outer end is engaged in an annular recess formed in the.closureplate 41 of the element.

' The firing pin body 18, near its forward end isprovided with a firingpin 25, formed with a peripheral annular groove to receive the-pointedinner end of a plunger or trigger, and which when engaged in the grooveof the firing pin 25, retains the latter in position against the. actionof a coiled spring 26- which has its forward end held by a pin 40,mounted in the forward end of the firing pin body 18. firing At the rearendof the pin body 18, is a fuse ignition chamber containing a hollowdouble flanged holder 28, no for a primer 27, which ignites a powder Atthe rear of the holder 28, andwithin the same, is arra a fuse retainer35. Fixedly connected to the rear of the fir as well as opening into theignition chamber formed at the rear end of the firing pin body 18, are aplurality of bent tubes 31, referably four in number, andthrough whichextend fuses 30, these latter pass through the wallof the ignitionchamber in the firing pin body 18 and also through .the wall of thechamber in the holder 28, in which is mounted the fuse retainer 35. Theends of the fuses are split, to expose the combustible carried therebyand the split' end of each fuse is spread apart and extended in alongitudinal groove on the periphery of the retainer 35. The number ofgrooves on they periphery of the retainer 35, equal the, num

g pin body 18,

The fuses extend throughout the length of the tubes 31, and terminate incontact with primers 34, which are disposed around the firing pin body18. The primers 34 are contained in the perforated and threaded primerthimbles 33. A spacing ring 32 is provided for the fuse tube and primerthimbles, and which is clamped between the threaded bell on the end of aprimer thimble and an annular shoulder near the threaded end of a fusetube.

Disposed at right angles with respect to the firing pin body 18 is acylindrical guide 19, which is held securely in position by having oneend fitting tightly into a socket 4 in the body 18 and its other endmounted in an opening formed in a stay plate 20. The

guide 19 has mounted thereon, a shiftable sleeve 38 and arranged withinthe guide 19 is. a spring controlled plunger 24, which' at' its innerend, extends into an annular groove formed in the firing pin 25. Plunger24 is held in engagin position with the firing pin 25, against t eoutward pressure of the spring 46, by a segmental locking block. 37, inthe guide 19 and engaging in a groove 45 formed in the plunger 24.Removably attached to the outer end of the plunger 24, is a stud of atapered intermediate extension pin 23 carrying an outer extension pin 21the latter is of such a length as to extend into'the tapered opening 22formed in the wall of the explosion chamber.

The stay plate 20 is curved to fit the inner wall of the explosionchamber and serves asa support and loeator for the guide 19. It is heldin place, at its forward end by the engagement of its bevelled ordove-tailed edges, with similar bevelled edges 45 of a notch cut throughthe-shoulder 42, on the inner wall of the explosion chamber. The

' rear end of the stay plate 20 is held in po-- sition, through themedium of a pair of studs 44.

ner end of-the guide 19 and interposed between a shoulder on saidguideand the firing body 18.

plosion chamber, and pin 21 is inserted through the hole 32. The base ofthe explosion chamber is then-inserted and pressed back into the bell orapron of the explosion chamber adjoining at-the rear, the air esof coverplates 41, 58,thence into the annular groove 47 and thence through theports 38 in the outer wall. 7 j

The extension pin 21, when the parts are in the position referred to,has a bearing against the wall of the bell of the adjoining chamber, andprovides what may be termed a secondary support for the plunger 34,thereby holding it and the firing pin 35 securely in place and as longas the two explosion chambers or impulse elements remainin the samerelative position.

After the parts have been assembled, in the man r, as referred to, thesleeve 38 is pressed back against the action of its spring 39, and thelocking block 37 is' then removed, after which the sleeve 38 is returnedto its original position closing the slot formed by the removal of theblock 37 The explosive charge 56 or 5, is now packed into the explosionchamber and covered by the fabric. 43, and also the cover plate 41 or58.

The impulse element'or propelling explosion chamber 55, as it does notseat in an impulse element at the rear thereof, must be provided with adevice to coact with the extension pin 21, and the device, as shown,consists of a release block 5 0,'fitted into a slot or pocket in theouter wall of impulse element or propelling chamber 5, and said vide-asupport for the block 50 until the latter'is engaged by the wallpf theshell 6.

Soft ,metal powder rings intended to engage the rifie barrel of thecannon, are indicated at 51,52 and 57.

In operation the projectile is first fired from the cannon by theinitial explosion of the charge .in the shell 6, asthe projectiletravels out through the barrel of the cannon, the release (block 50bears against and retained in place by the wall of the barrel. Onleaving the muzzle of the gun or can- "non; this. block 50 and the outerextension pin" 21 oif, due to the action'of the plungerspring 46-forcing the plunger 34 out-- wardly to the position shown in the dottedlines, Figure 5. This action of the plunger 34,-forces the tapered pin23 in the opening 22/ completely closing it. When the plunger v spring46, forces the plunger 34 outwardly, it causes the release of the firingpin 25,

which is driven back by the spring 26, to the position shown in thedotted lines in Figure 5. The air contained in the firing pin body 18,is free to pass forward, through the prot-ion of the powder charge 29andfuses 30(i are free to escape through the perforate flange of holder 28,through the tube, of the firing pin body 18, thence through the ports ofthe firing pin 25, a center 'opening in theplate 41, into the spaceforwardly of the plate 41, thence through radial openings in the innerand outer flanges of the late 41, into the annular groove 47 forme theexplosive chamber, through the ports 48.

. The fuses 30, burning at their other ends ignite the detonatingprimers 34, which explode the charge 56 in the impulse element orpropelling explosion chamber 5. The explosion of this charge exerts itsforce in all directions giving an'impetus or boost to the velocity ofthe forward part of the projectile and stripping off the propelling.explosion chamber 5 from the adjoining propelling' explosion chamber 4,thereby uncovering the extension pin 21 of the propel-v ling explosionchamber 4, when the foregoing described operation of firing is repeated,

as well as, in connection with propelling explosion chambers, 3, 2 and8.

With reference to the modified form shown in Figure'12, the differencewithro spect to the construction shown in Figu 2, is that a tube isfixed to the bullet on the forward end vof the projectile, which tube isto serve as a barrel chamber, from which 1 each succeeding impulseelement or thepropelling explosion chamber will be discharged, thepurpose being to better utilize the force of such propelling explosion,by

confining the compressed gases behind the:

projectile for changing the time for the sections being ejected as theflight proceeds. It will be noted further that eachimpulse element orpropelling explosion chamber from the rear chamber indicated at 5,hasa-gr'eater distance to travel before leaving theend of the tube, and thepresure of the gases against the part of the projectile remaining wouldtherefore be elfected to a regular'incre'asing time interval, as theinitial velocity 'of'the projectile expended itself.

It will be dbserved that ineither form a projectile is provided whichwill be accordtelescoplng chamber, charge firing means" ed addedimpetus" or boosts at regular inin the Wall of and discharged.

the bullet strike before the final explosion of the boosting charges thebursting char will immediately become effective. It Wlll be noted thatthe arrangement of the firing pin unit within each chamber is such thatgreat reinforcement of the rear or'bottorn wall of the chamber isaflI'ord'ed at a central or axial point so that the-entire projectile islongitudinally braced. Theexplosion of the propelling charges does notaffect. the previous chargessince the several sections have telescopic.fit and will readily be come displaced at the proper moment.

What is claimed is:

1. A projectile comprising, a bullet and a plurality of propellingchambers attached thereto in order, each section or chamber constitutingan entirety and mechanically controlling the firing of the propellingcharge in the next preceding chamber, and a skirt attached to the bul etand inclosing the chambers, said skirt having its rearend open. 2. Aprojectile comprisin an explosive chamber having an opening t oughits'side Wall, a firing pin within the chamber, a stem for normallyholding the pin inoperative,

- means for urging the stem to a position for ha, a firing pin in eachchamber, a lock for holding the pin inoperative, said lock being heldoperative by the telescoping rear chamher, and a spring for urging, thelock to its inoperative position .when its chamber is expelled fromthe-telescoping chamber.

4.A projectile-comprising a' plurality of propelling chambers designedfor being successively exploded, mechanical means under the control ofthe next succeeding section or chamber for firing-the charge, andmeansfo'r the rearmost chamber for effecting an operation of itsmechanical means immediately following the movement of the projectilefrom the muzzle of the cannon. j

5. A projectile comprising-a plurality of propelling. chamberstelescopically related,

ring means within each chamber for ex- 12 Elodmg the charge thereinandembodying a I ring pin, andwa pin-lock normally held operative by atelescoped chamber. 6. A projectile" comprising a plurality ofpropelling. chambers, the forward section of each chamber telescopingtherear end of the next preceding section, said chambers havingradlalopenings normally closed by the through the openings andreleasable upon displacement of the telescoping chamber for startingoperation of the firing means.

7. A projectile comprising an explosive chamber having a side wallopening, a firing pin, a guide tube for the pin secured in the chamber,a second guide tube extending from the first guide tube. to the sidewall of the chamber about the opening therein, a valve for closing theopening 'sl idable in. the second guide tube and adapted to be heldinope'rative by an encircling member into which the chamber is placed,and means for securing the firing pin inoperative and operable upon theseating of the valve to release the firing pin.

8. A projectile comprising a bullet, a propelling chamber telescopingthe rear end thereof, a firing pin, an axially arranged guide tube inthechamber for guiding the pinand forming a stay for the chamber, and

a charge adapted to be ignited by the firing 9. A projectile comprisinga bullet, a propelling chamber telescoping the rear end thereof, afiring pin, a guide tube for the latter within the chamber, a timedfuse, a tube housing the fuse and supported by the uide tube, andfuse-igniting means within the guide tube set in operation by the firingpin. v

10. A projectile comlprising a bullet, a propelling chamber telescopingthe rear end thereof, a firing pin, a guide tube for the latter withinthe'chamber, a timed fuse, a tube housing the fuse and supported solelyby the guide tube, and an igniting charge holder arranged withintheguide tube for supporting a primer in the path of the firing pm.

11. A projectile comprising a bullet, a

propelling chamber telescopin the rear end thereof, a firing pin, aguide tu for the latter within the chamber, a plurality of fuse tubessecured to the gulde tube, an annular spacing ring encircling the guidetube and having openings to receive the fuse tubes, and primer housingsth'readedlyconnected to the latter and clamping the same to the spamring.

projectile comprising an explosive chamber having a side wall opening, afiring pin, a guide tube for the pin secured in the chamber, a secondguide tube extending from the first guide tube to the side wall of hechamber about the opening therein, a, va ve slidable in the second guidetube for closing the side wall opening, means for urging the valve to aseating position, and means for locking the firing pin inoperative, saidmeans l movable byand during the seating move-.

ment of the valve to release the firing pin.

13. Aprojectile comprising a bullet, a pro- V pelling chambertelescoping the rear end der the stem inoperative, and means engagedinoperative, a spring for displacing the stem thereof, a firing pin, aguide tube for the 66 latter within the chamber, means operable by the.pin for igniting a charge in the chamber, a pin-locking stem for holdingthe pin inoperative, a spring tending to r'enwhen the latter isreleased, a guide for the stem, a locking block insertible through theguide for temporarily holding the stem operative, a spring-pressedsleeve slidable over the guide and block for securing the latter inposition, and means for releasably holding the stem operative when theprojectile is disposed for firing.

'15. -A projectile comprising an explosion chamber, means therein forexploding a charge and embodying a firing pin, said chamber having anopening through its side wall, means releasably holdin the pin inoperative and having a part a a'pted for closing the wall opening whenthe pin is released, and means'exteriorof the chamber for holding thesecond means operative and adapted to-be displaced during flight of theprojectile to permit the pinto function.

16. A projectile comprising a bullet having a tubular rearwardlyextending skirt, and a plurality of successively operating explosivechambers housed within the skirt and adapted for being discharged fromthe rear end of the skirt. I f

17. A projectile comprising a bullet hav-. ing a tubular skirt, and apropelling chamber contained withing the skirt and detachablyconnectedto the bullet for bodily escap- I in'g. rearwardly through theskirt with a propelling influence.

18. A projectile comprising a shell, a bullet, a plurality of lengthwisedisposed and successively operated lmpulse elements mounted in saidshell and each provided actuated devices for firing said charges forautomatically applying successive accelerations or boosting impulses tothe rear of the bullet during the flight thereof thereby providing, foran increased range for the pro-' jectlle dur ng the flight thereof, oneofsaid with an explosive charge, the forward one devices beingcontrolled by said shell and the other of said devices controlled by.said

I means.

19. A projectile comprising a bullet, a series of telescopic propellingelements arranged rearwardly'of the bullet and one of said elementstelescoping the bullet at the rear thereof, an axially arranged firingpin body within each of said elements and provided with a firing pin, acharge adapted to posed locking device for'the pin, means ar-. rangedexterlorly of said elements for controlling said locking devices andmeans whereby said locking devices are successively released to obtainboosting impulses to the bullet during flight thereof.

In testimony whereof I affizi my signature;

CI-IRISTIAJN KAISER.

